USA Gymnastics Has Stuck its Landing in Tampa.

By Joey Johnston

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USA Gymnastics has stuck its landing in Tampa.

When the OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships begin Thursday at Amalie Arena — culminating with the crowning of men’s and women’s individual champions this weekend — it will establish a legacy of high-caliber competition, along with the expected growth for the sport’s already robust base in the Tampa Bay area.

“Florida is always a big deal in gymnastics, so I’m excited we’re here and I know it’s going to get even more people engaged in our sport,’’ said Jade Carey, the women’s gold medalist in the floor exercise at the Tokyo Olympics. “It’s really cool for kids to be able to come watch some of the best gymnastics in the world and hopefully be inspired and have a lot of fun. They’ll be watching us have fun and do what we love to do.’’

The U.S. Gymnastics Championships haven’t been held in the Southeast since 2004 (Nashville) and it’s only the second time for the event to visit Florida (Jacksonville hosted in 1985).

“I think it’s fantastic that we’re coming to a new location,’’ USA Gymnastics president and CEO Li Li Leung said. “We’ve been away from the Southeast region for far too long. I think it will give the whole Tampa Bay and Florida gymnastics communities a real shot in the arm.

“We will have people who go to this every year, the core group that travels across the country to attend our events. But it’s very important to us to reach out from a grassroots perspective. We’ve been working closely with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission to promote our event because part of our mission is to attract new fans and grow their interest. We couldn’t have picked a more beautiful, sports-minded community and we’re very excited to be in Tampa.’’

Jeff LaFleur, who has operated Tampa Bay area gymnastics facilities for four decades, said he believes Tampa is a perfect site for this year’s competition.

“This event is coming to a place where gymnastics is already pretty big,’’ LaFleur said. “We have a lot of coaches and kids who care about the sport. So it’s great to have it here. I hope it will help us to continue building our community and inspire our kids to shoot for their highest goals.’’

LaFleur has coached dozens upon dozens of elite gymnasts, while sending a few hundred to college scholarships. LaFleur’s first elite gymnast was Jenny Ester in the 1980s. She’s now Jenny Rowland, head coach at the University of Florida. LaFleur also coached a young Dominique Moceanu, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic gold-medal winning team, before she moved to Houston for training with Bela Karolyi.

LaFleur is one of the speakers during this week’s Gymnastics Congress, where gym owners, coaches, athletes, parents and vendors congregate in a convention-style series of exhibitions, demonstrations and meetings.

“It’s really good stuff, all kinds of educational seminars on how to run your business, how to set up preschool gymnastics, lots of exchanges of ideas,’’ LaFleur said. “It’s a great resource for anyone involved in gymnastics.

“We’ve tried to really develop our programs for the everyday child, so that we’re not as influenced by the Olympic cycle. That being said, when you have the Olympics or an event such as the one we’re hosting in Tampa, you can expect a bump in participation. When it’s that high-profile, people watch gymnastics and get excited by it.’’

For the athletes, the U.S. Gymnastics Championship means they can win a national title but also position themselves for the World Championships, set for October in Liverpool, England. After the rigorous competition, several of them have already made plans for extended Tampa Bay area stays, so they can sample the beaches, restaurants and attractions.

“I’m excited for the weather and the scenery,’’ said U.S. men’s gymnast Yul Moldauer. “It’s a blessing to be here in a vacation destination. I have no doubt that the fans are going to love it.’’

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission and Amalie Arena are aiming to become world-class hosts for USA Gymnastics showcase event.

“If you’re a great building and you don’t host anything, then you’re not that great,’’ said Kevin Preast, Amalie Arena’s chief venue officer. “But if you take a great building, you host amazing events and you expose your community to a diversity of experiences, it raises the profile for everyone. We’re thrilled to have the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Tampa. It’s a very big deal and we plan on doing things right.

“It’s another example of having an opportunity to host a big-time event while showcasing our Tampa Bay community at the same time. We’re going to have some people coming to Tampa for the first time, so we’re determined to make a great first impression.’’

Amalie Arena is primarily home to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, the three-time Stanley Cup champions. But it also hosts a full slate of concerts, while also attracting a variety of sporting events, such as the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, the NCAA Volleyball Championships, the NCAA Frozen Four, along with the SEC and ACC Men’s Basketball Tournaments. Amalie Arena was also home to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors for the 2020-21 season.

“All of those events, along with the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, have one thing in common: We are dedicated to guest service and guest experience,’’ Preast said. “When people leave us, we want them to have experienced a world-class event with exceptional service. We’re all dedicated to having people enjoy our community, then having them return time and time again to enjoy all that we have to offer. It’s exciting to know that the gymnastics community will be our guests and we want to get them an experience they will never forget.’’